We "Don't" Want the Monk: The Malik Monk Thread

[Braggins]

I don't get why people are so much more skeptical of Monks shooting and consistency than they are of Grahams. Monk has scored at about the same rate and on slightly higher efficiency than Graham over this season and last and he is three years younger.

Last season + this season combined Graham vs Monk - per36 pts/reb/ast - shooting splits

DTae - 17.8/3.4/7.3 - 37.5%/36.9%/80.9% - 53.1ts%
Monk - 17.7/4.6/3.5 - 43.9%/32.1%/82.5% - 54.5ts%

[SWedd523]

Neither one plays defense, both average-ish rebounders

Tae is a much more dangerous shooter and a much better passer. That's why he (should) continue to get more PT than Monk.

Monk was drafted to be a shooter.

He's a career 33% shooter from deep and he has shown almost no ability to provide anything else of note in any other facet of the game.

[yosemiteben]

I don't get why people are so much more skeptical of Monks shooting and consistency than they are of Grahams.

I don't see too many folks on here pumping Graham's shooting consistency or arguing that he's a better shooter than his play suggests.

Also from my view Graham is just a much smarter player than Monk when it comes to getting his team involved and being a facilitator. You can argue its because Monk's development hasn't been prioritized, he hasn't gotten the minutes or been put in a position to show what he can do, etc., but at this point that feels like the current state of things.

And I agree with SWedd - when we drafted Monk, the thought was that he could be a Steph-esque god level ISO scorer and long ball shooter, and he's been extremely far from that.

[Braggins]

If I had to choose to keep one between Monk and Graham on similar contracts right now I would keep Monk and I don't think its even particularly close. I don't think it necessarily needs to be an either/or situation, though.

[BigSlam]

Imagine when he actually gets his full legs underneath him then.

“I’m not there yet,” Monk said. “If I was I’d be dunking a lot more. But yeah I’m getting there. I’m probably … I would say I’m 90 percent back so I’ve got another 10 percent to lock into. So yeah, man, I’m close. I’m getting there.”

I wonder this is related to getting back into logging playing time, or more a comment related to his COVDID experience?

I think it was DY who said a ways back that we really have no idea of what the lingering effects the virus has on people, although we do know it impacts different people in different ways.

[fatlever]

Interesting. Monk Is saying that he is not 100% still trying to get his legs back after a long layoff and dealing with covid. However, a month ago when he was out of the rotation he said that he was hundred percent fit and ready to play.

I am happy that he was actively fighting as hard as he could to get into the rotation as you would expect from someone with passion to play, however, maybe JB was correct in holding monk out at the early part of the Season while he was still recovering. Perhaps it wasn't just JB playing favorites/holding grudges.

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[Rich4114]

I don't know why there is such a mystery over this Monk thing and why he wasn't playing earlier. Like was he and is he affected by COVID or not? That's what we would like a solid answer on. The words being used before he got his playing time by both him and JB indicated it was not COVID related just others were performing better in front of him during practice and during their playing time when they got into games. Monk indicated he was at 100%. But who knows for sure? It might not matter since now he's playing and a major contributor.

[Braggins]

Tae is a much more dangerous shooter

[GiggitySmalls]

Monk>tae

[Rays Pompadour]

Figuring Monk into the offseason calculus, I don't see how the Hornets let him walk. His QO as a RFA is $7.3M ($13.36M cap hold, according to Spotrac). The QO is a no-brainer, though it's possible he gets an offer sheet double that. I think that unlikely, but it only takes one. Monk could take the QO and go totally free in 2022. Unless the Hornets express a commitment (in the form of a contract extension), he might do just that.

But I think the Hornets see an emerging, maturing young player who still possesses a high ceiling - a player worth a continuing investment. It'll strain the cap situation, but I support the Hornets keeping their own and forgoing other options in free agency.

Malik Monk - 4 years, $48M, 4th year TO. Essentially a three-year deal on a very tradable contract. This is a little under the contract extension Portland offered to Gary Trent, Jr. ($53.76M over 4 years), an offer Trent declined to become an UFA in 2021.

[euphorbus]

But I think the Hornets see an emerging, maturing young player who still possesses a high ceiling - a player worth a continuing investment. It'll strain the cap situation, but I support the Hornets keeping their own and forgoing other options in free agency.

Considering that he is shooting 50% from three in 15 games, you have to think that the front office has contingency plans. The knock has always been consistency and defensive effort, both of which have shown real improvement once he finally got off the bench. If he continues on the current track, finishes well above 40% from long range, and hits a couple more last-second daggers, that opens up a lot of possibilities.

[James Gatz]

Y'all are getting a little wild on Monk. There's no way he would get 4/48 in the open market right now, let alone as a RFA.

He's played better this season but the shooting isn't real. He's played 15 games and he's a career 33.6% from 3. Also worth mentioning he's shooting under 40% from 2 this season. Again, this number is likely to rise but it's not like he's been a flat out stud. He looks like a solid off the bench scoring guard.

Graham is clearly the superior player at this point.

[Hornet Mania]

Y'all are getting a little wild on Monk. There's no way he would get 4/48 in the open market right now, let alone as a RFA.

He's played better this season but the shooting isn't real. He's played 15 games and he's a career 33.6% from 3. Also worth mentioning he's shooting under 40% from 2 this season. Again, this number is likely to rise but it's not like he's been a flat out stud. He looks like a solid off the bench scoring guard.

Graham is clearly the superior player at this point.

I agree with everything except the last part. Graham has me shook right now, I hope he pulls out of the nosedive but he has been dreadful most of the season.

[fatlever]

I'm still not convinced he isn't fools gold. I would let him walk for nothing before I signed him to a large contract.

I don't believe his current 3-point shooting percentages are anywhere close to sustainable. I'm not sure he does anything else at a high enough level to contribute to consistent winning basketball.

I also would pay Graham long before I paid Monk.

That being said, I'm happy to see him playing much better, although I would prefer he went back to attacking the rim more like he was doing last season.

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[Rich4114]

We are more reliant on Graham right now because he controls the ball, calls for screens and fires threes. That was the game last year but it has been far from effective this year. Luckily Terry has improved to carry some of what Devonte has regressed. I think individually, Monk is a more talented player than Devonte and can do a lot more. I just don't think he'll ever be utilized in that way before he leaves for another team who probably will show us what we should've done.

I think Monk works really well with a Ball-led PG back court and Hayward/Miles + Cody or Biz up front. It seems like JB lets that lineup go for 2-3 minutes and then breaks it up even if it's going well.

[SWedd523]

I think individually, Monk is a more talented player than Devonte and can do a lot more

Can he?

Again, he hasn't shown ANY ability to be even an average defender. He's also a below average with ball handling, passing, rebounding, and steals. Very low Free Throw rate. Until this year has been a below average shooter. Etc.

The Malik Love Dome is a place filled with Fool's Gold and Peyote

[SWedd523]

ETA:

I just checked BBall-Ref.

Even with Monk having (arguably?) the best season of his career, he ranks:

-Dead last on the team in DRtg
-Behind Zeller, Rozier, CoMar, Bismack, and Gordo (amongst regulars) in ORtg
-Ahead of only Bismack in Steal Rate
-Ahead of only CaMar, Miles, Bismack in Assist Rate
-Ahead of only Devonte in Rebound Rate
-Ahead of only Miles in Free Throw Rate

But I mean hey, he's averaging 11/2/2 (on a completely unsustainable 50% from deep).

He's a destitute version of JJ Redick, but let's give him $10mil+ a year

[BigSlam]

We are more reliant on Graham right now because he controls the ball, calls for screens and fires threes. That was the game last year but it has been far from effective this year. Luckily Terry has improved to carry some of what Devonte has regressed. I think individually, Monk is a more talented player than Devonte and can do a lot more. I just don't think he'll ever be utilized in that way before he leaves for another team who probably will show us what we should've done.

I think Monk works really well with a Ball-led PG back court and Hayward/Miles + Cody or Biz up front. It seems like JB lets that lineup go for 2-3 minutes and then breaks it up even if it's going well.

We need to move away from comparing Monk to Tae - Tae and Monk are nothing alike so they really shouldn't be compared.

Terry and Monk are the similar players (although Monk a fraction of Terry).

Really it's:
Tae compared to LaMelo (which is a slam dunk).
and
Terry compared to Monk (which is also a slam dunk).

[BlackOutBuzz]

There's no way he would get 4/48 in the open market right now.

Idk, that's the contract we gave Kemba like 7 years ago. Edwards and Wiseman will eclipse $12M in their 4th season, while still on rookie deals. Different times.

I think it's at least feasible a team would take a shot on a young guy like Monk; given the number of teams set to have cap space because they were planning for a much bigger FA class.

Now, Charlotte probably shouldn't be that team, but hopefully they can get something for him if he does get a good offer.

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[Chapelchilla]

I would not rush to sign guys that have had recent drug suspensions to 8 figure per year deals.
That’s dumb.
Would trade him or do the qualifying offer to see how he looks next year
If he walks after so be it. Loose handles, no D and short.